Wire-stretcher.



R. WHITLOGK.

WIRE STRETCHER.

APILIOATIGN FILED me. 5, 1909.

50,83 Patented Mar. 1, 1910.

, IE- 7 ik M/ 6F Nrrsn sTATEs PATENT orrion.

ROSS WHITLOCK, 0F ESTANCIA, TERRITORY OF NEW MEXICO.

WIRE-ST'RETCHER.

To all whom tt 'may concern:

Be it known t-hat I, Ross HITLOCK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Estancia, in the county of Torrance, and

Territory of New Mexico, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in VVire-Stretchcrs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in wire stretchers and has for its object to provide a simple and inexpensive device of this class by means of which the wires may be stretched and secured to the vfence posts, in the construction of wire fences.

A further object is to provide new and novel means by which the connecting point of the wire with the stretcher may be regulated as desired by the operator.

A further object is to provide a plurality of pivoted rack bars whereby the stretching or tautening of the wire may be quickly and satisfactorily accomplished.

With these and other objects in view, the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes in the specific structure shown and described may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.,

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved wire stretcher, showing the same attached to a fence post and a wire positioned therein. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates the fence post to which my improved wire stretcher is attached by means of the rods or bars 2, which are pivoted upon the side of the drawhead 3. The extremities of the rods 2 are inwardly curved, and are adapted to embrace the fence post and support the stretcher when the wire has been properly secured thereto.

The drawhead 3 comprises a substantially U-shaped block, and has supported therein upon the transverse shaft 11, the ratchet gear 5. This gear is adapted to engage with the teeth of the rack bars 6, and to draw the same through the head 3 during the stretch- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 5, 1909.

Patented Mar. 1, 1910.

serial No. 511,326.

ing operation. The raclrbars 6 comprise a plurality of sections of equal length upon the opposite ends of which an extension 7 and a recess 8 are provided. The extension upon the end of one of the sections is adapted to be received in the recess provided in the end of the next succeeding section, and is pivotally secured therein by means of the transverse pivot pin 9. Upon the outer end of the section 6 which extends away from the side of the post, a cam wheel 10 is rotatably mounted in the ear 11 formed upon a suitable supporting plate secured thereto. A portion of the periphery of the wheel 10 is provided with the teeth or serrations, which are adapted to bite into the wire and securely hold the same between the cam wheel and the end of the rack bars 6.

Upon one end of the transverse shaft 4L.

an operating handle 12 is secured by means of which the ratchet gear 5 is rotated to draw the sections of the rack bars through the head 3. A gravity pawl 13 is pivoted between the sides of the head 3 and is adapted to engage in the teeth of the rack sections 6, to hold the same against any forward movement and consequent loosening of the wire.

It will be observed from reference to the drawings, that the hook rods 2 are of greater length than the rack bar sections 6, so that the sections may be forced downwardly between the draw head and the side of the fence post, as the rack sections are drawn through the head 3 during the stretching operation. v

In operation, the wire is first placed beneath the cam wheel 10, beneath the serra tions formed in the periphery thereof, and tightly clamped between the wheel and the rack bar section 6. The hook rods 2 are now adjusted upon either side of the fence post, the hook ends thereof engaging upon the rear edge of the same. The operating handle 12 is now grasped and turned to rotate the ratchet gear 5, which operates to draw the rack bar sections through the drawhead 3, in the direction of the fence post to which the wire is to be secured. It will be obvious that by providing a series of pivoted rack bar sections, a more efficient tautening of the fence wires may be secured, than would be possible were only one such section employed. The glravity pawl will, of course, engage in the teet of the rack and hold said sections in the position to which they have been moved Vagainst any retrograde movement.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a ver simple and inexpensively constructed Wire stretcher by means of which the wires of a fence may be properly stretched or tautened and secured to the fence post. It will be understood that any desired number of the rack bar sections 6 may be employed, and Will entirely depend upon the conditions or amount of slack to be taken up in the fence Wires. Thus the stretching of the Wires may be efficiently performed, and but little labor is required upon the part of the operator in the construction of wire fences With the use of my improved stretcher. It may, moreover, be very quickly secured in position and the wire readily attached thereto, and as its construction comprises but very few parts, the stretcher Will be extremely durable in use.

That is claimed is:

l. A Wire stretcher comprising a drawhead, means secured thereto for connecting said head with a fence post, a ratchet gear rotatably mounted in said head, a plurality of pivotally connected rack bar sections longitudinally movable through said drawhead, and means mounted upon the endof one of said sections for securing a fence wire thereto.

2. A wire stretcher comprising a drawhead, rods pivoted upon the side of said head for supporting` engagement with a 'fence post, a ratchet gear rotatably mounted in said head, a plurality of rack sections pivotally connected and engagmg with said ratchet gear, a pawl pivotally mounted in said head and engaging With the teeth of said rack sections, and wire gripping means carried by one of said sections.

3. A Wire stretcher comprising a dawhead, bars pivoted upon the sides of said head and having hooked extremities for connection with a fence post, a shaft extending transversely through said head and having a ratchet gear secured thereon, an operating handle upon one end of said shaft, a plurality of pivoted rack bar sections extending through said drawhead and engaging with the ratchet gear, a gravity paw] mounted in said drawhead and normally engaged in the teeth of said rack sections, and wire gripping means carried upon one end of one of said sections.

4. In a wire stretcher, the combination with a drawhead substantially U-shaped in cross section, of a shaft extending transversely through said head, a ratchet gear carried by said shaft and disposed between the sides of said drawhead, an operating handle upon one end of said shaft, a plurality of pivoted rack sections extending through said drawhead and arranged to be engaged successively by said ratchet gear, a gravity pawl pivotally supported between the sides of said drawhead and engaged with the teeth of said rack sections, and wire engaging means carried by one of the sect-ions.

AIn testimony whereof I aiix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

ROSS VHITLOCK.

Vitnesses J. L. STUBLEFinLn, F. L. BURRUss. 

